A Warwickshire man murdered his civil partner by pushing him into the path of a bus in a "moment of madness" after an argument outside an Indian restaurant, a court has heard.

Ian Chaundy, 49, is alleged to have killed Paul Carscadden during a night out with friends in Leamington in June last year.

Chaundy, of Avenue Road, Leamington, denies murdering Mr Carscadden and has also pleaded not guilty to an alternative count of manslaughter.

Opening the case against Chaundy, prosecutor Alan Kent QC told jurors Mr Carscadden died almost instantly in the incident, which was captured by a CCTV camera in an adjacent street.

Urging the jury to put emotion aside while trying the case, Mr Kent said the panel would have to decide whether Chaundy pushed his partner, and whether he intended to kill him or cause serious harm.

Alleging that the push was deliberate, Mr Kent told Birmingham Crown Court: "We are dealing with the death of a man in his early 40s having been killed by his partner, this defendant, in what was undoubtedly a moment of madness that was no doubt instantly regretted.

"Emotion must play no part in your deliberations and in your view of this particular case.

"The question you have to resolve is, did this defendant deliberately push his partner into the path of the oncoming bus?"

Chaundy and Mr Carscadden, who was 40, had been out with friends at a pub before going to the Indian restaurant in Bath Street.

Alleging that Chaundy argued with Mr Carscadden after the latter left the restaurant to go home early, Mr Kent told jurors the defendant did not want to leave and followed his partner outside.

The two men had an argument which ended with the defendant pushing his partner and causing him to fall into the path of the bus, Mr Kent said.

CCTV footage filmed at a nearby tattoo parlour, which was viewed by jurors during Mr Kent's opening statement, showed the two men together and the moment of impact.

After the incident, Chaundy was said to be distraught and was heard making comments including "I loved him, I didn't mean to kill him" and "I can't believe I have killed him".

Chaundy was arrested on suspicion of murder at the scene after being taken around a corner so he could no longer see the bus, the court heard.

During police interviews, Chaundy said he had been trying to persuade Mr Carscadden not to leave the restaurant for another 10 minutes and could not remember pushing him.

He also said he did not see the bus at first and only became aware of it once his partner had started to fall into the road.